Attractions and Places To See around Gietrzwałd - Top 20

Probably the most prominent structure of the Brick Gothic style in northern Poland, rhe church was probably built between 1370 and 1380, after Allenstein was granted city rights in 1352. The impressive east gable was built shortly after 1429. During the Fourth Coalition War, the church was used as a prison for 1,500 Prussian and Russian soldiers in the winter of 1806/07, who used the furnishings as firewood. The current furnishings were then created, which fortunately survived the end of the war in 1945 thanks to the work of Pastor Johannes Hanowski. The baroque interior design that had been installed in the meantime was removed in 1866. In 1896, the main altar with its valuable Flemish paintings, which had been installed from the castle's St. Anne's Chapel, fell victim to a fire. In 1899, the roof was replaced. Around 1900, the composer Feliks Nowowiejski worked as an organist at St. James' Church. On June 28, 1972, the church became a co-cathedral of the archdiocese. In 1991, Pope John Paul II visited it, and in 2004, he elevated St. James' Church to a minor basilica. The three-aisled hall church was built without a choir. The tower was initially built free-standing only up to the church roof and was only raised to its current size between 1582 and 1596. With the construction of the side chapels, which were added between 1715 and 1721 together with a general restoration, the tower became part of the church. The current spire was added in 1867/68, with the golden star dating from the original building in 1596. At the same time, the façade was redesigned in a neo-Gothic style, with Ferdinand von Quast and August Stüler contributing. In 2001, the church received a representative main portal made of bronze.

In 1334, a watchtower was established on the Łyna River. In 1346, the forest was cleared at the location for a new settlement, mentioned in a historical document from 1348. The following year, the Teutonic Knights began the construction of an Ordensburg (castle) as a stronghold against the Baltic Prussians. Allenstein was granted municipal rights by the cathedral chapter of the Bishopric of Warmia in October 1353. The German "Allenstein" referred to the river's Baltic Prussian name Alna, which meant a hind. Local Poles, having arrived along with German settlers, called it Holstin and Olsztyn, which are Polonizations of the German name. The castle was completed in 1397. The town was captured by the Kingdom of Poland during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War in 1410, and again in 1414 during the Hunger War, but it was returned to the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights after hostilities ended.

Nicholas Copernicus lived here in Allenstein Castle in 1516, 1524, 1531, 1535 and 1538.

Allenstein Castle was built in the 14th century and served as the residence of the grand masters of the Teutonic Order. Today the castle houses a museum that presents a variety of exhibitions and exhibits on the history of the Teutonic Order and the city of Allenstein.

A beautiful gothic church in the center of Olsztyn

The Allenstein Castle was the seat of an administrator of the Warmian cathedral chapter and the main location of one of the three chamber offices that were subordinate to the chapter and, together with the episcopal chamber offices, formed the Bishopric of Warmia, which was granted as secular territory to the bishop and the chapter when the four Prussian dioceses were founded in 1245. In 1455, Allenstein Castle was taken over by the mercenary captain Knight Georg von Schlieben.[5] From 1516 to 1519, the office of administrator was held by the nephew and foster son of the Warmian bishop Lucas Watzenrode, the Warmian canon Nicholas Copernicus, who became known as an astronomer. Copernicus lived at Allenstein Castle during this time. As evidence, an astronomical table for calculating the equinox painted on the plaster of the castle's cloister has been preserved to this day. At the time of the war between Poland and the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order in Prussia, Albrecht von Hohenzollern, he returned to Frauenburg, but was called back to Allenstein in the autumn of 1520. Archdeacon Bernhard Sculteti supported Copernicus with cannons and provisions so that Allenstein Castle could be maintained independently and in full independence from Poland.[6] It was not attacked and a ceasefire was concluded on April 7, 1521. Due to his successful defense, Copernicus was appointed Commissioner of Warmia and tasked with its reconstruction. Tiedemann Giese, the later Bishop of Warmia, was his assistant. Source Wikipedia

The church in Gietrzwałd was enlarged and expanded into a pilgrimage church in the years 1878–1884 by the Paderborn cathedral and diocesan architect Arnold Güldenpfennig. The church was opened in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. elevated to the minor basilica. During the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Dietrichswald, 13-year-old Justyna Szafrynski and 12-year-old Barbara Samulowski reported that they lived in Dietrichswalde (today Gietrzwałd in the Olsztyński powiat in the Polish Warmian-Masurian voivodeship) from June 27 to September 16, 1877 the Virgin Mary appeared several times. In contrast to the Marpinges apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which took place almost at the same time, the Prussian authorities reacted with caution. Bishop Maximilian Kaller recognized Dietrichswalde as a diocesan pilgrimage site. [10] The apparition was only officially recognized by his successor as Bishop of Warmia, Józef Drzazga, in 1977 (on the 100th anniversary) and thus approved the worship. Source: Wikipedia

A castle complex worth seeing with an interesting history. More information: https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamek_Kapitu%C5%82y_Warmi%C5%84skiej_w_Olsztynie